Lines 75-7

Although there is no lacuna or disruption in the MS, there does appear to be disruption in the text. It is impossible to produce metrical regularity from what is there although the sense of what is left is acceptable (if a little abrupt). Most editors assume that a half-line is missing to complete 76 freondas gefrunon, although some editors (e.g. Swanton) argue that single verse lines of this type may be acceptable variants in Old English verse (cf. Elene 518 and Maldon). It is possible that the corruption of this passage is greater than merely a missing half-line verse. Line 75 itself is awkward, as it stands as a single hypermetric verse whereas elsewhere (with the possible exception of 133) hypermeric verses occur in blocks. The topic of the finding and elevation of the True Cross could well have merited a rather mosr extensive treatment.

go back back to line 75